Fun facts about sea otters for Sea Otter Awareness Week
September 24 to 30 is Sea Otter Awareness Week. Otters are adorable and easy to love. My dear friend Sherry and I have bonded over otters in a big way. My teen adores them as well – they’re her favorites at the Shedd Aquarium. We love watching them there and learning about these amazing creatures. […]
New trailer and poster for Disney-Pixar’s Coco, in theaters this Thanksgiving
With the trees showing twinges of color here in the Midwest and pumpkin spice everything now available, it feels like fall is upon us. This morning I saw a few Thanksgiving items out in Target, and was reminded that the holiday is just 69 days away. (You can find a countdown clock here.) That also means […]
How the Luana Lounge at Aulani helps maximize your vacation time
When you travel to Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa in Hawaii, you’ll want to maximize your time in paradise. The Luana Lounge lets you do just that – making it possible to seize every moment of fun in Hawaii. Taking advantage of it allowed us to enjoy our last day of our trip. When do […]
Therapists share 10 ways to limit the trauma for kids impacted by natural disaster
Our hearts were hurting for everyone impacted by Harvey. As parents, of course our thoughts turn to the many children that we’ve seen fleeing their homes and in shelters. Knowing how to help your child in those most difficult of circumstances must be so challenging. To help, Chicago-based therapists Julianne Neely and Ritamaria Laird of […]
Thor: Ragnarok Superpower of STEM Challenge now open to high school girls
As the parent of a teen girl, strong believer in girl power, advocate for STEM education, and fan of Disney and Marvel, I’m thrilled to hear about the new Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok – “Superpower of STEM Challenge.” It’s an awesome opportunity for girls to show their superpowers and their super brains! High school girls who […]
Start of a new school year is a perfect time to commit to healthy choices
This post is sponsored by Responsibility.org as part of their Ask, Listen, Learn program. All opinions and back to school excitement/jitters are mine or my daughter’s. The start of a new school year is a perfect time to commit to healthy choices and to start a conversation with your kids about alcohol! Back to school […]
How Fender makes it easy for busy teens to learn guitar
Thank you Fender for sponsoring this post. Learn guitar at home with Fender Play. “You’ll play guitar your whole life.” That’s what my 91-year-old grandfather said to my daughter, his great-granddaughter, last week after she told him the she was learning to play guitar. This surprised me, as our conversation had just been about how […]
Production has begun on Ant-Man and the Wasp
The Ant-Man sequel is happening! “Ant-Man and The Wasp” is now in production, as you can see in this fun and a tiny start of production announcement video from Marvel Studios: It will be in theaters on July 6, 2018 with a truly amazing cast. It includes Paul Rudd (be still my heart), Evangeline Lilly, […]
Visiting Cooperstown: What to do, where to eat & where to stay
Walt Whitman called baseball “the American game” and so it’s fitting that the National Baseball Hall of Fame is in perhaps the quaintest and most charming of American small towns – Cooperstown, New York. Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning a visit to Cooperstown, other than the fact that you don’t have […]
Wicked Cool Bucket List helps build self-esteem in tweens before school starts
I hate to say it, my friends, but summer doesn’t last forever and the back to school talk is starting. Parents also want their kids to return to the classroom feeling good about the year ahead. They also want their kids to feel good about themselves. While you can’t just pick up a packet of “self-esteem” […]